Member-only story
I Evicted People
But I’m still a good communist, I swear!
I was a renter myself. In Montana. I hadn’t saved a downpayment, nor did I have credit established for a mortgage. Suddenly, I was a landlord as well as a tenant.
When my older friend (and perhaps my very best friend) passed away, I inherited 15 acres in New Hampshire, a gorgeous colonial house, and a remodeled barn dwelling, along with her medical bills. Also, chickens, turkeys, cats and horses.
My goal was to make sure all those critters got good care, and maybe, maybe, maybe, actually make some money by renting the house and the barn. New faculty do not make a lot of money; I wanted to pay off those medical bills, fix the place up, and someday, retire. Either in the barn, or because of it.
The house was already rented to two really cool sisters, V and R, and one remarkably uncool guy, J.
J dressed in fatigues and walked the perimeter of the 15 acres daily with a walkie talkie. He’d say “Wolf leader to wolf pack. I’m seeing foxes at the southwest corner” to anyone listening. He’d talk about keeping the grounds safe, and protecting his family. Cool? I guess. Odd but harmless was where I put it in my mind.
He would have benefitted from showering more often. I guess R thought it was acceptable. To each her own.
